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I hope you're all doing well tonight and hanging in there. I have a question. My Rheumatologist told me that an elevated sedementation rate can be an indicator my cancer is back. Mine is up to 39, normal is 0-20. I also have fibro and they never ruled out lupus which can cause this number to be elevated, but my blood work only ever shows up my sed rate is up. After my hysterectomy it was normal, but now it's back up. I am scared to death now and am really feeling my cancer is back. If you do a search on sedementation rate it says it can be inflammation from arthritis in the body, but also says it can be from leukemia or metastasized cancer. After having cancer a year ago I tonight have myself totally convinced I have recurrence.

I do have an appt. with my gyne Nov. 13 and she did say she is going to do a CT scan. I am more scared to have that for fear of bad news. I don't know what to think now.

So my question... any of you with uterine/endo cancer was in your blood work your ESR (Sedementation rate) elevated?? I am scared and really need reassurance. I knew I could count on you all who totally understand my fear here.

Thank you all and have a great night. I pray for this group every single night!

I don't have personal experience or information to share, but wanted you to know that I'm sending you a virtual hug. Sometimes a little information can be dangerous. so please try to think positive and I'll say an extra prayer for you

Thank you so much for your kind words and prayers. I am trying to think positive, but right now I am pretty scared. I just had a crying spell, but now I will pick myself up and think more positive. Oh how I hate cancerhead. When you have a blood work number that can be elevated in cancer it really brings on the cancerhead. But I keep thinking it could be something else. This sed rate can be elevated with arthritis and I do have some kind..they just don't know yet what or lupus yet. So maybe it's that. I will go next week to my appt. with my gyne, get that pap smear and the CT scan she is ordering....just maybe it will all be clear I will think positive

Thanks again for the reassurance. I'm so happy you are dancing with NED and I pray you do forever!!!

My ESR is in the 30's as well. Two of my docs (that i did like) have both noted that to me, but they individually said that wasn't too high for them to worry much about it, at least for now. (I hope for mine it has nothing to do with the nodule found on my mammogram... didn't think of that until now!) I was told by my chiropractor that I too have a degree of fibromyalgia and arthritis, but the bloodtests do not indicate rhuematoid. I asked if the slightly elevated ESP is the reason why some of my bone/joints are screaming (I can't go for walks or exercise any more) and they said yes could be, and that some people are more sensitive than others with this elevated number. Neither of these doctors mentioned or associated cancer, and they are both aware of my prior UC.

But, if your insurance or finances allow it, keep at it if you can! Try not to assume the worse. Self talk to yourself positive thoughts... I have "seen" you do that before and I know you know it helps! Think good thoughts whilst you are plugging them for answers.

Cancerhead is very nasty and can leave us with doubts when tests are done for other conditions and come back even a little off. About a year or so post op, I got my normal allergies with swollen neck lymph nodes; when this lasted a bit longer than usual my ear/nose throat doc mentioned "you had surgery for cancer." I told him I was under a gyn/onc care and then he said I should not worry but his statement alone left me concerned for weeks and how I wished he had kept it to himself. Thankfully my gyn/onc advised that he strongly doubted this was related to the cancer as it is not a usual symptom ,and though he felt is was not needed, offered to do a CTscan.
Do speak with your gyn/onc as she may offer some calm; may your CTscan come back as boring as possible. s

I didn't think I was familiar with this test, so I looked it up on the internet.
This is what I found:

Apparently, the ESR is test is used to help diagnose conditions "associated with acute and chronic inflammation, including infections, cancers, and autoimmune diseases".
I remembered that I had this test to rule out Rheumatoid Arthritis several years ago. it's pretty general and just tells you something is going on, but not exactly 'what" or "where".

so SA, as Ellen would say, Don't waste a good panic. Could be so many OTHER things going on.

I know a few years ago, my mother had fibromyalgia rheumatica (or a very similarly named disease). It took her several years to get a correct diagnosis. (Was told rheumatism and lime disease by two doctors, had lots of testing) She had to have SED tests every month for a while to bring down her numbers. She was very sore and in lots of pain in her joints, tired and was losing weight. As soon as the doctor diagnosed her and put her on Prednzone, she began to feel better almost immediately. Just something for you to inquire about with your doctors.

Well as I live and breath. This board is amazing. My best friend, Joyce, has been having a lot of joint pain and her symptoms are so like many listed here. I will have her take the test and see how it comes out.

Good morning to you all. I hope you awoke today with hope in your hearts and love surround you.

I want to thank you all so much for your kind words, wisdom and information. You sure have all calmed me, and as K9 reminded me what ellen says....don't waste a good panic...great quote! By the way, how is Ellen doing...anyone know or Ellen you reading this? I'm thinking about you and keeping you in prayers.

Juanita, have your friend Joyce ask her GP or even better see a Rheumatologist. She could have rheumatoid arthritis or something. My Rheumy told me my fibro is secondary to some more like lupus or something and with lupus you do get joint pain. He's been checking my sed rate for years...it goes up and down. It is an indicator of inflammation in the body, but can also be elevated in those with cancer..which is why I am concerned, but if she has joint pain she has some rheumatic condition

Thank you all again so much. I send you all my love and extra huge soft hugs!
SA